DUMAGUETE City—the principal and largest seaport of Negros Oriental province—may not be the first thing to come to mind when it comes to out-of-town trips, but it is undoubtedly a paradise not only for the laid-back kind of traveler, but for the adventurous, as well.
Home to approximately 121,000 residents, Dumaguete continues to attract thousands of visitors every month. With domestic flights from Metro Manila available daily on major airlines, the city also benefits from easy ferry access to and from Cebu City.
Also nicknamed the “City of Gentle People,” the place is famous for its low-key vibes, laid-back charms, serene university town atmosphere and friendly locals. In fact, it is even dubbed as one of the country’s retirement capitals—many Filipinos and foreigners alike choose to spend their retirement years in the city because of its close proximity to beaches, mountains and other nature sceneries without losing touch with the urban area, and without losing the calm ambiance, either.
Moreover, Dumaguete is also known for the wild and daring adventures it offers. It is a place to experience unforgettable outdoor adventures and breathtaking nature sceneries. Just 45 kilometers northwest of the city, visitors can find one of the most successful dolphin and whale-watching operations in the country. This area is acknowledged to have one of the world’s biggest concentration of marine mammals.
There is also the Manjuyod White Sand Bar, a small island that emerges only during low tide and a convenient stopover for dolphin and whale-watching groups and other traveling passersby.
Northeast of Dumaguete, approximately half an hour’s boat ride from the city, is the Cebu municipality of Oslob, in whose azure waters one can snorkel and swim with whale sharks, the largest known fish species, through guided tours and dive packages. Likewise, Apo Island—one of the Philippines’s premier dive sites and snorkeling destinations—is also easily accessible.
Even closer to Dumaguete is the picturesque Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park in the town of Sibulan, Negros Oriental. Surrounded by verdant forests, the lake is rich in fish fauna and is home to an expansive ecosystem and biodiversity.
There are countless other activities travelers can choose from when visiting Dumaguete, but there is one place in the city where the calm and the thrilling adventures collide that no traveler should ever let pass by—Sta. Monica Beach Club.
Haven in the city
STRATEGICALLY located in Barangay Banilad, Sta. Monica Beach Club is the only resort within the city, making it the quickest getaway place without compromising the quality and the experience.
A convenient 15-minute drive away from the Dumaguete Airport, Sta. Monica Beach Club is a boutique hotel and beach resort venue set amid nipa plantations in a quiet fishing village—perfectly situated as a hub in the middle of all the activities and action.
Indeed, Sta. Monica Beach Club offers a relaxing retreat not just for leisure visitors to the city, but also for the boldest, most adventurous travelers.
The resort has been an iconic travel and leisure destination in the city, but greater things can be expected as major renovations and improvements are now under way with its new management: the Amorita Group of Resorts, the same group that manages the Amorita Resort and Momo Beach House in Panglao, Bohol, as well as the Funny Lion Inn in Coron, Palawan.
“We want to make Sta. Monica a tourist destination in the city,” said the resort manager, Marc Guerrero.
With a white-washed rustic theme that makes use of contemporary architectural concept and indigenous materials and furniture pieces, Sta. Monica Beach Club exudes a homey and relaxed vibe—the perfect haven of choice for those looking for a place to stay, lie down and loosen up after a long day exploring the great outdoors in and around Dumaguete.
Surrounded by thick, tall palms that blend with the tropical landscape along the beach at Dumaguete Bay, Sta. Monica Beach Club has a total of 19 spacious and comfortable rooms. Guests can choose among its array of accommodations, including seven deluxe rooms with twin beds, seven deluxe rooms with a king bed, and four two-story family lofts that have a king bed on the ground floor and a single and double beds on the second floor.
For a homier vibe, families can opt to stay in the beach house, which is complete with kitchen and entertainment facilities, as well as the rooms.
Each of the elegantly decorated pastel rooms includes full air-conditioning, an LED TV with cable channels, wireless Internet, an in-room safe, and tea and coffee facilities.
Event-driven facilities
GUERRERO said, however, that the resort’s goal is more on the events than the rooms.
“Dumaguete is a very backpacker-friendly city. There are hostels and resorts that have very low rates, which make the competition very stiff,” he explained. “But this does not worry us because we have found our niche market, which is really more on events.”
“Like what they say here, the kids have their debut here in Sta. Monica Beach Club, as well as their wedding and their kids’ baptism. It’s a cycle for families, and we are privileged to share that kind of experience with them,” he added.
Indeed, Sta. Monica Beach Club is focused on becoming the leading boutique hotel and resort venue not only for vacation experiences, but also for special meetings, exhibitions and events in Negros. “We believe that if people choose to hold events in the resort, they will also bring in market for the rooms,” he said.
The resort offers the Glass House, a multipurpose function room that can comfortably seat up to 180 persons. The garden can even hold a maximum number of 600 persons for events, such as a garden wedding.
The Lanai Restaurant, headed by Chef Syl Francis Malenab—a culinary artist, dietician and nutritionist—offers a sumptuous menu of local and international favorites. Guests can choose from the restaurant’s selection of grilled seafood prepared with the day’s freshest catch. They can also feast on classic Filipino dishes such as Sinigang na Baboy, Sizzling Bulalo and Crispy Pata, or international specialties such as Korean Kalbi Gjim, Crispy Fried Yellow Chicken Curry and Honey Barbecue Spareribs.
Aside from the restaurant, guests can also enjoy the swimming pool with the Oasis Pool Bar, where they can enjoy the atmosphere of the resort while sipping their favorite cocktail or wines that are exclusively distributed to Amorita resorts.
Eco-friendly
ASIDE from the superb facilities and accommodations the resort has to offer, Guerrero said Sta. Monica Beach Club makes sure to maintain its being environment-friendly by following green measures.
The resort follows simple procedures, such as strict segregation of wastes and giving of straw in the restaurant only upon request, as well as planting fruit-bearing trees in the backyard. To date, around 5,000 trees and shrubs have already been planted, including lemongrass, which they use for making shampoo, drinks and fragrance of rooms.
Mangrove-planting is also held monthly in partnership with the local government.
Shampoos are also stored in recycled bottles instead of the usual small plastic bottles to avoid excessive production and consumption.
Moreover, Guerrero explained that wastewaters is not treated anymore; instead, a bio-solution is used. The local government even saw and wants to adopt this technology.
With all these and more coming in the next years, guests will undeniably find paradise in the heart of Dumaguete City with Sta. Monica Beach Club. Indeed, the calm and the thrill are what the resort offers that no other place can.